Payroll processing deadlines during Colleague outageAs the IT Division prepares for the migration of Colleague R18 over the Thanksgiving weekend (8 p.m. Nov. 20 through 8 a.m. Nov. 26) timely payroll processing is vital. Therefore, it is essential that all time cards, web time entries, and Payroll Action Forms must be completed and submitted by noon on Friday, November 16, to the Human Resources Department. If you have any questions, contact Lou Ann Carman in the Human Resources Department.

IT shares some Q&A about Colleague Release 18 Following are some commonly asked questions about R18, and the answers from our IT department.

Q: “Who is the college’s administrative system software provider and what is Release 18 (R18)?”

A: Datatel is the college’s administrative system software provider and provides Columbus State with an enterprise information management solution that focuses on five key business areas – enrollment and student services; financial management; financial aid; human resources; and institutional advancement. The Datatel Colleague Release 18 (R18) database replaces the current Release 17 and will provide the college with the functionality to remain competitive. The vendor will cease supporting the current version of Release 17. Therefore, it is imperative that the college migrate to the new system in order to retain support by the vendor.

Q: “How are the IT Division and the R18 vendor communicating during the migration?”

A: The IT Division has increased its communication with the vendor in order to ensure that all principal processes vital to the operation of core business functions are in-place on Day 1 of R18 going “live.”

Q: “Who is prioritizing and addressing process issues during the migration?”

A: The IT Division, in collaboration with the business units, is reviewing and prioritizing all outstanding system issues in order to ensure that all principal processes vital to the operation of core business functions are in place on Day 1 of R18 going “live.”

Q: “Will there be regular reporting of successful process tests during the migration?”

A: Yes. As testing of the numerous processes in the R18 test environment continues across the campus, the Testing Team will report successful results of those tests regularly to the IT Implementation Team during the final two weeks prior to the system being taken down on the evening of November 20, 2007.

Shared Governance committee to examine travel reimbursement proceduresThe Shared Governance Fiscal Resources and Facilities Committee is seeking input into the current procedures for travel and reimbursement. The committee will hold three open forums Nov. 20 and 29 and Dec. 5, and also will seek input through a one-question survey. To see a description of the project, find dates and times for each forum, or participate in the survey, follow this link.

Di Pietro to direct music festivalInstructor Rocco Di Pietro and his students will perform at an Electronic Music Festival Saturday, November 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mad Lab Theatre, 105 N. Grant Ave. Admission is $5. Columbus State students Sagan Ventling, Christina Pagura, Christopher Greer, Lucretia Pollard and Andrea Needham will perform their own works. Also performing will be Pauline Oliveros, of Mills College, in California and Barry Truax, of Simon Frazier College in Vancouver, B.C.

Columbus State Charitable Giving Campaign ’07 well under wayAs was announced at the Fall In-Service Day, the college has again offered employees the opportunity to support a wide range of organizations from four charities including United Way of Central Ohio, Earth Share of Ohio, Community Shares of Mid-Ohio, and Community Health Charities of Ohio.

The Charitable Giving Campaign ends December 14 at 4:30 p.m. You can make a contribution through payroll deduction or by writing a check. If you have any questions about the campaign, please call Barbara Smith-Allen, coordinator, at ext. 5433, or email ballen02@cscc.edu.

Organic produce at the Clintonville Community Market

Simply Living teaches sustainabilityThe Community Shares of Mid Ohio organization Simply Living (code 1034) teaches people how to adopt earth friendly practices that improve the quality of life for everyone. A newsletter, radio program, educational programs and classes help people learn to reduce their energy consumption. For example, if you ride your bike to the local farm store to buy locally grown, organic vegetables, take them home in your own cloth bag and cook them in your low-wattage microwave—you will have done five things right there to save the environment!

Fifteen attend AMATYC math conferenceMathematics Chair Jonathan Baker reports that the college had an outstanding showing at the annual American Mathematics Association for Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) 2007 Conference. Fifteen faculty members attended—more than any other college.

Kristina Schmid and Leslie Smith made presentations at the conference. T.J. Duda placed second in the Faculty Math League Competition. Also competing in the faculty competition were Darrell Minor, Michelle Persinger, and Kevin James. In addition, Beth Barnett, Melissa Leubben, John Nedel, Sherry Crawford-Eyen, Gary Gutman, Kristin Ramsey and Alan Yang attended.

“The Midwest won the regional award, thanks in great part to Columbus State,” said Baker.

Volunteers needed to help with Lego League competition in DecemberColumbus State is again preparing to host the Columbus Regional FIRST LEGO League competition for middle school students, and volunteers are needed to make it the success that it has been for the past four years.

On Saturday, December 8, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., about 300 middle school students and their parents, siblings and teachers will take part in this hands-on, project-based learning competition.

FIRST LEGO League sent out a challenge to all teams to use robotics to understand and create solutions to one of today’s most critical environmental issues: energy management and conservation. This year’s challenge is about understanding the elements of energy use in a world that uses more and more energy every day. As our world grows and changes so do our energy needs.

K-12 Initiatives and the Engineering Technologies are seeking fun, energetic, enthusiastic people from among the students, staff, faculty, administration and friends of Columbus State to help with this event. Whether you are a veteran volunteer or a new recruit, we would be happy to have you join our team and help with the event. We need judges, referees, time keepers, team assistants, and more. We can match your skills to the numerous volunteer positions available.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Laurie Johns, K-12 Initiatives at ext. 5998, or Claudia Fowler, ext. 5961 for more details.

Writing Center to sponsor workshop on MLA DocumentationAll students are invited to attend a workshop on MLA Documentation on Wednesday, Nov. 14, in Nestor Hall Room 342, from 1–3 p.m. Students will learn about MLA in-text citations and Works Cited pages. Students are encouraged to bring a draft of a current research project they’re working on for help from the Writing Center.